Lord Palmerston, E17

This is another of those Victorian pubs that were intended to dominate visually the immediate area. The exterior is pretty much unchanged since it was built, with the original red brick facing that no-one has been tempted to paint indigo or any other unsuitable colour. The name of the pub is spelled out in terracotta on the corner facing, next to the pub sign. Inside it's similarly impressive, with plenty of surviving original Victorian features. These include the magnificent mahogany bar back with mirrored backpieces and with a (now disused) dumb waiter on the end of it); original bar counter; baffle with etched glass separating the public bar and lounge bar counters; and panelling separating different sections of the pub. You can get an idea of the pub's original layout from the screenwork and unused doorway - It would once have at least five rooms. The public bar is on the corner; to the right of that is what was once the saloon bar; the main room on the left is what I suppose must have been the lounge (with two separate areas leading from it); and with another large lounge room at the back. The public bar contains a table football game, and the rear lounge has a pair of pool tables and a dartboard, with a magnificent antique trophy cabinet on the back full of trophies. Furnishings are mainly standard tables and chairs; there are TVs around the place, and with the floors a mix of carpeting and bare boarding. There was just the one real ale on (St Austell Tribute), plus Lilley's Apple & Pear Cider on handpump. There were two further handpumps, one with a Bombardier clip reversed, and the second with a Lilley's Mango Cider clip reversed. Being a Stonegate chain pub the usual illustrated menus were on all the tables, advertising the usual sort of pub grub and meal deals. This pub still loks mightily impressive from the outside, and although it does have something of a corporate feel about it, it also has enough traditional character coupled with loads of original features to make it worth a visit.

The Lord Palmerston is a nice looking pub that is on the corner of a busy road junction. Once inside there is a long room with the bar on the right side,the seating is comfy bench seating and normal tables and chairs,the left side has pool table to the rear,there was a TV showing the rugby. There were two real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Woodfordes Wherry which went down well,the other beer was Bombardier. I was happy enough having a drink in this pub. Pub visited 21/3/2015

An attractive exterior on a corner plot the interior is split into sections either side of the large U shaped bar.The left handside has a pool table at the rear and televised horse racing was proving popular with a good crowd of regulars.It's comfortable and clean but does feel like a bit of a chain with food menus dotted about.The bar back is worthy of note however.Two handpumps with Woodforde Wherry and CW Bombardier so not much for the real ale fan to get their teeth into,but a decent enough pub as it stands.